Island



NATHAN F. MATHEYVSON, OFPROYIDENC-Ev, RHODE ISLAND.

tiraron-omanv Specification ofl'ietters` Patent No. 11,133, dated `J'iirilp 20, 1854.

To allzu/1.0m t may concern Be it known that I, NATHAN F. `MA'rHnw-` soN, of Providence, in the county of ProvidenlceandStateof Rhode Island, have invented a 'new anduseful Improvement in Vatch^-Chain"Swivelsg` and I1 do hereby` declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description `of the` same, reference being lhad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, exhibits the external form of one of my improved watch `chain swivels. Fig. 2, is a vertical central section ofi the same. Fig. 3, isa horizontal section through the line,-./L'," ,in Fig. 2. a L

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.`

My invention has reference to a. well known arrangement of swivel hook in which a slidingtube` or collar containing `a spring is used` for `locking the hook when closed,

and my improvement in said form or kindV of hook consists `in a` novel construction or` arrangement of the parts whereby the usual swivel cross Joint or ]o1nts in the hook are dispensed with, f thus economizing the construction and wear or reducing the liability` `to derangement of thehook, and whereby the hook may be openedor closed quicker' and with greater ease and be set sowas to remain open without being held'so `by the "finger or hand and withoutdestroying the loop form of the hook thereby affording greater convenience andsecurity 'in putting on or off the watch.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation more fully;

A, B, represent the loop or hook for receiving the ring of' the watch. This loop is divided obliquely at a, as represented-the part, B, being attached to the bottom of the socket, C, and the part, A, has a shank,

D, which passes up loosely through a square opening, b, in the center of the bottom of the socket, C, and receives the swivel ring, E, at its upperend, as shown in Fig. 2. The shank, D, is made square, or many Sided, at its lower extremity, c, and corresponds to the shape of the opening, in the bottom of the socket,` C, and when this square, c, fits in the square opening, b, it is imposisble for the socket to be turned. It fits thus when the two parts, A, B, are in the position shown in black, in Figs. 1, 2,

and. The upper portion, CZ, of the shank, is made cylindrical, and has the spiral spring, e, placed around `itsaid spring being arranged` between the shoulder, f,and the `bottom of the socket, C. By making the `sliank,`D,V square at,c, and employing the spiral spring, the `socket and movable part, B, of the hook or loop, are prevented `from turning orrising `ol" their own accord,

after being arranged in proper relation to the stationary part A to form an unbroken loop--thespring serving most eiiectually for preventing them rising, and for keeping the `bottom ofthe socket against the shoulder,

g, of the part, A, of the hook. This spring, however, allows of the socket being raised or moved longitudinally in a direct line,

until it is entirely out of contact with the square portion, c, ofthe shank; and the cylindrical part, d, of the shank,then allows ofthe socket turning, so as to form an openi `ing in the loop, or rather increase the size of the oneformed by raising the socket in a direct linesaid opening being formed for the purpose of admitting the ring of the watch.

. It should be observed, that when the socket is turned 'to the `position shown in red in Figs. 2, and 3, that the corners of the square opening, b, come opposite `the sides of the i square, c, of the shank; and consequently, the sides :of said opening stand vacrossthe `corners of` the square, and thus the socket is prevented from assuming the position shown` in bla-ck, until turned by the hand,

and the sides of its opening brought in line with the sides of the square, c. `The spring in rigid contact with the top of the square while it is turned to the position shown in red, and causes it to adjust itself when the sides of theopening, ZJ, are in line with the sides of the square, c. `It also holds the two parts, A, B, firmly together, and thereby prevents the escape of the watch.

The sliding tube or collar (C) diiferently constructed `with spring inside for locking the hook and, by sliding the collar upward, unlocking the same is, in itself, as before adverted to, an old device, but, in such preserves for keeping the bottom of the socket vious arrangement, the hook has been cross jointed at its bottom and the sliding collar been provided with a groove or recess for receiving the opening end of the hook. In such an arrangement, much less convenience and security is afforded for putting on and E the watch, as, in opening, the sliding collar has first to be raised and then the jointed or opening section of the hook turned considerably downward, in which action there is great risk of the watch falling unawares or too abruptly from the widely opened hook and less facility generally afforded for putting on and off the watch than where the hook forms, when open, a tolerably close loop as is t-he case with my arrangement. Such close loop however formed by the open hook is common to other forms of swivel hooks, but in these, as in the instance more particularly referred to, the one section of the hook is connected to its adjoining part by a cross swivel joint, which, in every instance, is an objectionable mode of construction, not only as involving` greater expense at first (and this in making such articles in large quantities is a matter of much import) but as rendering t-he device mo-re liable to derangement and wear and this is especially the case where t-he joint is at the bottom of the hook causing wear likewise to the watch-guard rubbing over the rough surface produced by the joint.

By the construction and arrangement I adopt, no cross swivel joint has to be'formed in the hook whereby the wear and cost of construct-ion is economized-the .small sec- `(B) in its open position.

firmly hold or keep set the small section These are advantages which when combined make the swivel hook much more convenient, perfect in its operation, durable and cheaper of construction. v

I do not claim as new, in swivel hooks, the combination of the spring (e) and its inclosing slide or collar (C) for locking and unlocking the hook, as such has before been used; nor yet, merely of itself, making the loop or bow of the hook in separate sections; but

I do claim as both new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

Constructing the spring inclosing slide (C) with the smaller or opening section (B) of the loop fast to it and gearing the said slide, by square or angular recess (b) in it and corresponding shaped shoulder on the shank, with the main section of the loop for operation together in the manner specified, whereby the hook is opened and closed with greater facility and the open- Y ing section (B) firmly held in its open position without applying the finger or hand theretoand without destroying the loop form of the hook and without employing a cross swivel joint in the loop, as shown and described and by which construction, combination and arrangement numerous advantages as herein specified are obtained and the device generally improved.

NATHAN F. MATHEWSON.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. MULLARKY,

C. W. HoLBRooK. 

